Ask AI: Identify four main ways in which socialisation shapes gender roles

1. Family Influence: From a young age, children observe their parents and other family members to learn about gender behaviors. Parents often unconsciously reinforce gender roles by providing gender-specific toys or by expecting different behaviors from both boys and girls. For example, girls are often expected to be nurturing and boys are encouraged to be active and strong. 2. Education: Schools also play a major role in shaping gender roles. For instance, teachers may have different expectations for boys and girls, and boys and girls are often guided towards certain subjects based on societal views on gender, such as boys in science and girls in literature or the arts. 3. Media: The media is a powerful tool that presents and reinforces gender stereotypes; from television shows and movies to advertisements and social media. The media often depicts men as strong, decisive and action-oriented, while women are presented as caring, emotional, and in need of protection. These pervasive images can strongly influence people's perceptions of how they should behave according to their gender. 4. Peer Socialization: Peer groups can heavily influence a person's sense of gender identity, especially during adolescence. Interactions with friends and acquaintances can strengthen gender norms as certain behaviours are rewarded or punished based on what is perceived as suitable for each gender. This pressure to conform can lead to further entrenching gender roles.